Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 01’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘RIE 01’ that is characterized by broad upright habit, large medium-green leaves, flowers that are pinkish-white and pale green in color, and unique inflorescence development. In combination these traits set ‘RIE 01’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Hydrangea  known to the inventor.

Genus: Hydrangea.

Species: macrophylla.

Denomination: RIE 01.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofhydrangea that is grown for use as an indoor floral potted plant and anoutdoor ornamental flowering shrub. The new cultivar is knownbotanically as Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereinafterby the cultivar name ‘RIE 01’.

‘RIE 01’ resulted from a breeding program that was conducted by theinventor at the inventor's nursery in Kyoto, Japan and began in 1990.The purpose of the breeding program was to produce new varieties offloral potted hydrangeas that exhibit new and unique flowers and flowercolor.

Between May 1990 and May 1993 the inventor assembled a collection ofunnamed and unreleased hybrids from a sequence of deliberatepollinations involving the following cultivars, all unpatented, andavailable in commerce in Japan: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Otafuku’,Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Yamaajisai’, and Hydrangea macrophylla‘Fijinishiritaki’. The inventor did not record which variety was used asmale parent and which as female parent. In May 1993, the inventorcarried out a deliberate pollination between one unnamed plant from theinventor's collection as female parent and the variety Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented) as male parent.

The pollination described above produced thirty-five individualvarieties, which the inventor considered novel and unusual. One of theseindividual varieties was selected by the inventor in June 1994 and isthe subject of the present invention, ‘RIE 01’.

‘RIE 01’ is a deciduous shrub that exhibits large medium-green leaves,and pinkish-white and pale green flowers that bloom in spring andsummer. Selection was based on the distinguishing characteristics of theflowers, flower color, and inflorescence development. ‘Lace cap’ typehydrangeas produce showy sterile flowers along the outside of theinflorescence, and smaller inner flowers that are fertile flowers. Whenan individual inflorescence of ‘RIE 01’ first opens, it looks like a‘lace cap’ type inflorescence with large sterile flowers on the edge.However, unlike the ‘lace cap’ type Hydrangea, the inflorescenceeventually fills out completely. Within the inflorescence, centerfertile flowers are intermixed with center sterile flowers, so that asthe inflorescence develops further, the sterile flowers in the centeropen fully to then cover the smaller fertile flowers. ‘RIE 01’ isdistinguishable from the parent plants by flower color, and uniqueinflorescence development, which produces an average of 80 sterileflowers and 550 fertile flowers per inflorescence.

The inventor considers that ‘RIE01’ is distinct from other varieties ofHydrangea known to the inventor in the following respects:

First, whereas other varieties of Hydrangea in commerce have four petalsper floret on a flat, one-dimensional plane, ‘RIE 01’ has two to threelayers of petals per floret, creating a double-flower appearance.

Second, whereas many novel varieties have been found in, or broughtfrom, Japan in recent years, none appear to have the combination ofuniqueness of flower form as above combined with greater vigor andfaster growing to flowering stage which typifies ‘RIE 01’.

Third, the vigor of ‘RIE 01’ is evident in its strong thick stems whichdo not require staking to support the heavy blooms. ‘RIE 01’, althoughvigorous, exhibits a shorter internode distance than many othercommercial forms of Hydrangea, allowing ‘RIE 01’ to be growncommercially with less or even no application of growth regulatingchemical.

‘RIE 01’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in the spring of1995 in a cultivated area of Kyoto, Japan. The method used for asexualpropagation was softwood cuttings. The characteristics of the newHydrangea cultivar named ‘RIE 01’ have been determined stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 01’. These traits incombination distinguish ‘RIE 01’ from all other commercial varieties ofHydrangea known to the inventor. ‘RIE 01’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, withouthowever, any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is grown for use as both an indoor floral        potted plant and an outdoor ornamental flowering shrub.    -   2. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ exhibits flowers that are pinkish-white        and pale green in color.    -   3. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ exhibits unique inflorescence development        that produces an average of 80 sterile flowers and 550 smaller        fertile flowers per inflorescence.    -   4. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ exhibits a broad upright habit.    -   5. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ exhibits large medium-green leaves.    -   6. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is 33 cm. in height and 58 cm. in diameter        in a 1.5-liter container.    -   7. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is a shrub.    -   8. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is deciduous.    -   9. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ performs best when planted in loam based        moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water.    -   10. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is asexually propagated by the method of        softwood cuttings.    -   11. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ exhibits rigid, strong basal branches.    -   12. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5.    -   13. Hydrangea ‘RIE 01’ blooms continuously from early April to        September.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 01’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety of Hydrangea named ‘RIE 01’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an individual whole plant growingin a 1.5-liter container in a frost-protected greenhouse in De Kwakel,The Netherlands. Plants were grown in Peat moss soils with a PH of 6.0to 6.4. The plant is in first bloom and is approximately twelve monthsold. The plant was produced from a cutting which was rooted and grown ina four inch container, then transplanted into the 1.5 liter containerand pinched to encourage basal branching, then allowed to shoot from thebase and allowed to flower in its natural season. The drawing depictsthe rigid, strong basal branches, which occur naturally after theinitial pinching of the rooted cutting.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the inflorescence,with a close-up view of the sterile and fertile flowers.

All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance theyare as accurate as possible, by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is the detailed description of ‘RIE 01’ as grown in agreenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. Data was collected in April2004 from 12-month-old plants grown in 1.5-liter containers. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2002 Edition of the ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 01’.-   Genus: Hydrangea.-   Species: Macrophylla.-   Denomination: ‘RIE 01’.-   Commercial classification: Floral plant, ornamental shrub.-   Common name: Hydrangea.-   Use: Grown for use as a potted indoor plant or as an outdoor    ornamental flowering shrub.-   Container size: Suggested container size is 1.5-liter.-   Cultural requirements: Performs best when planted in loam based    moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water.-   Parentage: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 01’ is a hybrid plant that    resulted from the induced cross-pollination of the following parent    plants:    -   -   Female parent.—An unnamed individual Hydrangea macrophylla.        -   Male parent.—An individual Hydrangea macrophylla            ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Blooming seasons.—Spring and summer (natural season) or            year-round if forced.        -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.        -   Overall plant shape.—Broad inverted triangle.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Growth rate.—An average of 15-cm. per month in spring.        -   Plant height.—33 cm. in height.        -   Plant diameter.—58 cm. in diameter.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.        -   High temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to 32° Centigrade.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by the method of            softwood cuttings.        -   Time and temperatures to develop roots.—Approximately 4            weeks is needed to develop roots on an initial cutting, at            temperatures of 18° to 20° Centigrade.        -   Crop time (outdoor plant crop).—An average of 12 months is            needed to produce a commercial container size flowering            outdoor plant, from a rooted cutting.        -   Temperatures (outdoor plant crop).—From rooted cuttings to            commercial size containers, the outdoor crop is grown at            natural outdoor temperatures utilizing unheated greenhouses            for winter protection.        -   Crop time (indoor plant crop).—An average of 4-6 months is            needed to produce a commercial container size flowering            indoor plant, from a rooted cutting.        -   Temperatures (indoor plant crop).—Transplant rooted cuttings            to liner pots and keep for a minimum of 6 weeks at below 5°            Centigrade to force dormancy. Transplant to 1.5-liter            containers and keep at 18° to 25° Centigrade for a minimum            or 10 weeks to produce commercial container size flowering            plants.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—No            susceptibility to pests or disease known to the inventor.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of lateral branches.—An average of two lateral            branches.        -   Lateral branch length.—Average is 27.50 cm. in length.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—Average is 7 mm. in diameter.        -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem surface.—Glossy.        -   Pubescence.—None observed.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem texture.—Rigid.        -   Stem color.—Individual colors 144A, 144B, N186B and N186C            are present on an individual stem.        -   Lenticels.—Present.        -   Quantity of lenticels.—An average of 8 per cubic cm. of stem            surface.        -   Lenticel color.—A combination of colors N186B and N186l C is            present on an individual lenticel.        -   Lenticel height.—An average of 0.5 mm. in height.        -   Lenticel width.—An average of 3 mm. in width.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate to sparse basal branching.        -   Branching requirements.—Pinching encourages lateral            branching.        -   Internode length.—5.5 cm. between nodes.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral stem.—An average of 10            individual leaves per lateral stem.        -   Leaf shape.—Broad elliptic.        -   Apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf margins.—Crenate.        -   Leaf length.—Average is 14.6 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—Average is 11.6 cm. in width.        -   Leaf appearance (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Semi-glossy            surfaces.        -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None present.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—144C.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 146C            and 146D is present on an individual leaf.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 139A            and 147A is present on an individual leaf.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 137C            and 147A is present on an individual leaf.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole length.—An average of 4.5 cm. in length.        -   Petiole diameter.—An average of 3 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Petiole color.—144B.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—High durability to            stresses.        -   Stipules, tendrils, thorns.—None observed.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal inflorescence.        -   Inflorescence type.—Compound corymb.        -   Inflorescence height.—Average of 15 cm. in height.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average of 26 cm. in diameter.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—An average of 550            fertile flowers and 80 sterile flowers per individual            inflorescence.        -   Flowering habit.—Blooms continuously from early April to            September.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—An average of 550            fertile flowers, and 80 sterile flowers per individual            lateral stem.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—An average of 550            fertile flower buds and 80 sterile flower buds-per            individual lateral stem.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—An average of 1100            fertile buds and flowers, and an average of 160 sterile buds            and flowers per individual plant.        -   Bud length.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 2.5 mm. in            length and sterile flower buds are an average of 5 mm. in            length.        -   Bud diameter.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 2 mm. in            diameter and sterile flower buds are an average of 4.5 mm.            in diameter.        -   Bud shape (fertile and sterile buds).—Obovate.        -   Bud apex (fertile and sterile buds).—Obtuse.        -   Bud color (fertile and sterile buds).—A combination of            colors 145A and 145C is present on an individual bud.        -   Flower aspect (fertile and sterile flowers).—Flowers range            from upward to outward facing on an individual plant.        -   Rate of opening (fertile and sterile flowers).—An average of            10% of the flowers on an individual plant open at once, and            all the flowers on an individual plant have opened by 6            weeks.        -   Flower diameter.—Fertile flowers are an average of 1.2 cm.            in diameter, and sterile flowers are an average of 4.4 cm.            in diameter.        -   Flower depth.—Fertile flowers are an average of 9 mm. in            depth and sterile flowers are an average of 1.6 cm. in            depth.        -   Flower shape (fertile and sterile flowers).—Rotate in shape.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning (fertile and sterile            flowers).—Persistent.        -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle color.—Individual colors 144A, 144B, and N186C are            present on an individual peduncle.        -   Peduncle length.—Average is 8.8 cm. in length.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Average is 4.5 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle surface.—Puberulent.        -   Peduncle angle.—Average angle is 30°.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.        -   Pedicels (fertile and sterile flowers).—Present.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—An individual flower lasts 2-4            weeks.        -   Flower response time.—An average of 9 weeks.        -   Flower fragrance.—None observed.        -   Fertile flowers.—Petal appearance: Dull. Petal surface:            Glabrous. Petal number: An average of 4 petals per flower.            Petals fuse or unfused: Unfused. Petal shape: Obovate. Petal            margin: Entire. Petal apex: Apex ranges from obtuse to            emarginated. Petal length: Average is 8 mm. in length. Petal            width: Average is 6 mm. in width. Petal color (abaxial            surfaces when opening): 150D. Petal color (adaxial surfaces            when opening): 150D. Petal color (abaxial surfaces when            fully opened): 75D. Petal color (adaxial surfaces when fully            opened): Individual colors 70D and 73B are present on an            individual petal. Calyx: Present. Calyx shape: Campanulate.            Calyx length: Average of 2 mm. in length. Calyx diameter:            Average of 4 mm. in diameter. Sepals: 5 in number. Fused or            unfused: Fused. Sepal shape: Ovate. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Cuneate. Sepal appearance:            Dull. Sepal surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces):            Puberulent. Sepal length: Average of 2 mm. in length. Sepal            width: Average of 1 mm. in width. Sepal color (abaxial and            adaxial surfaces): 145A. Pedicel length: Average is 3 mm. in            length. Pedicel diameter: Average is 1 mm. in diameter.            Pedicel angle: Average angle is 30°. Pedicel strength:            Strong. Pedicel color: A combination of colors 144B and 144C            is present on an individual pedicel. Pedicel surface:            Densely pubescent. Lenticels: None observed on pedicels of            fertile flowers.        -   Sterile flowers.—Tepal appearance: Dull. Tepal surface:            Glabrous. Tepal number: An average of 13 tepals per sterile            flower. Tepals fused or unfused: Unfused. Tepal shape:            Closest to deltoid. Tepal margin: A combination of entire            and dentate margin is present on an individual tepal. Tepal            apex: Closest to rounded. Tepal length: Average of 2.1 cm.            in length. Tepal width: Average of 1.9 cm. in width. Tepal            color (abaxial surfaces when opening): Individual colors 65D            and 155C are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color            (adaxial surfaces when opening): Individual colors 65D and            155C are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color            (abaxial surfaces fully opened): A combination of colors 75C            and 76D is present on an individual tepal. Tepal color            (adaxial surfaces when fully opened): A combination of            colors 75B and 75D is present on an individual tepal. Tepal            color fading to (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): 150D. Calyx:            None observed. Pedicel length: Average is 2.7 cm. in length.            Pedicel diameter: Average is 2 mm. in diameter. Pedicel            angle: Average angle is 35°. Pedicel strength: Strong.            Pedicel color: 73D. Pedicel surface: No pubescence observed            but lenticels are present. Lenticel color: A combination of            colors 61B and 61C is present on an individual lenticel.            Lenticel dimensions: Less than 0.50 mm. in width and less            than 0.25 mm. in height.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—None observed.        -   Pistil.—An average of 3 pistils is present per individual            fertile flower.        -   Pistil length.—An average of 1.5 mm. in length.        -   Stigma.—Present.        -   Stigma shape.—Clavate.        -   Stigma color.—A combination of colors 157D and 69D is            present on an individual stigma.        -   Style length.—An average of 1 mm. in length.        -   Style color.—A combination of colors 144A and 144B is            present on an individual style.        -   Ovary.—Present on fertile flowers.        -   Ovary position.—Inferior.        -   Ovary color.—144B.        -   Ovary dimensions.—0.2 mm. in height and 0.2 mm. in diameter.        -   Ovary shape.—Globular.-   Seed production: No seed production has been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 01’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.